It’s time to end the hate; it’s time to stand up against the racism; it’s time to welcome refugees. On December 7, be a part of ‘Put out a Welcome Mat for Refugees Day’. Join with thousands of Melbournians to tell Tony Abbott and his government that enough is enough – it’s time to put out a welcome mat for refugees. Help make sure that on December 7, Melbourne is awash with messages that call for the government to put out the welcome mat for refugees.

WHAT TO DO…

Chalk/poster/leaflet/letterbox streets and train stations in your neighbourhood in the lead up to, and/or on, December 7 – DISPLAY POSTERS AVAILABLE HERE

Approach neighbourhood centres/businesses/workplaces to display welcome posters in the lead up to, and on, December 7th.

ON THE DAY…

Come to the launch, 10am State Library Melbourne, December 7. Bring your own welcome mats and messages calling for welcome centres, not detention centres!

Stay in touch with the event through the Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/170155619852115/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Share what you plan to do by leaving a comment below.

Shower your neighbourhood with messages calling on the government to welcome refugees!

Take photos of the welcome messages and put them on instagram (details to come soon).

What would it take for our government to genuinely put out a welcome mat for refugees?

Our Welcome Mats symbolise a call to:
i) Turn detention centres into welcome centres- replace mandatory detention with resettlement support and community services;
ii) Process and resettle refugees in Australia- close offshore processing camps on Nauru and Manus Island;
(iii) Ensure that refugees are granted permanent, not temporary protection;
(iv) Ensure all asylum seekers have the right to work;
(v) End all forced deportations to danger;
(vi) It is no crime to seek asylum, it should be no crime to bring the boats;
(vii) Invest the $8 billion dollars set to be wasted on detention and offshore processing over the next four years into health, education and community services for all of us, including refugees and asylum seekers.